{UAH} Defence secretary fired over National Security Council leak on Huawei decision

Defence secretary fired over National Security Council leak on Huawei decision

Wednesday 1 May 2019 18:14, UK

Image:Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has been sacked

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Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has been sacked after an investigation into a leak from the top-secret National Security Council (NSC).

A Downing Street spokesperson said Theresa May has "lost confidence in his ability to serve".

It marks the end of a probe into the leak from last week's NSC meeting, which green-lit a bid by Chinese telecoms giant Huawei to help build Britain's 5G network.

Image:Huawei had its bid to help build Britain's 5G network green lit

Details of the decision were leaked to the media but there has been no official confirmation by the government.

An internal investigation was launched, while one Tory MP also called for a criminal inquiry.

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Confirming the outcome today, Downing Street said Mr Williamson had been fired over the "unauthorised disclosure".

Mrs May wrote in a letter to the former chief whip that his "conduct has not been of the same standard" as other ministers interviewed about the leak.

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She said the investigation "provides compelling evidence suggesting your responsibility for the unauthorised disclosure" and there was "no other, credible version of events to explain this leak".

Mr Williamson has previously strongly denied being behind the leak.

"Neither I not my team have divulged information from the National Security Council," he said last week.

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